Technology and Temple Grandin

First, let me say that in order to type this and all new posts, I have to access my blog in Google Chrome ... time to find a new way to share online ... How can I move the content of this blog into something more appealing and accessible?  I've tried a wiki but didn't like that it was purely text oriented ... Anyway ...

So I'm reading Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery



And I was disappointed that a freshman college Agriculture Production student working at http://www.malabarfarm.org/ for the summer hadn't yet heard about Temple Grandin.

Not only am I inspired by Temple's intelligence, passion, and work ... I am inspired by the Teachers that encouraged her interests and who fueled her passion in science.

The Story of Rab and Croc

All graphics I use are Microsoft Clipart unless otherwise noted.

Hugs All Around: An Outreach Story

I've done
a TON
of outreach last week ...
and there is always more

and

i

love it:

No sooner had I sat down in the "teacher's chair"
one Boy has something to say
"What is it?" I ask
"You're hot!!" he says, and gives me a hug
small Girl and big Boy both follow his lead
"Thank you.  Nice to meet you . . . I'm Miss Hayley, and I'm from the Library..."


Sometime after I bring out the Library's burping frog puppet:

little Girl says seriously, "I'm inviting you to my birthday party."
"Did you all like that? ... (I make eye contact with Girl) Thank you. (I look away to attend 
to a different, needing "friend.")

At the end of the visit, little Girl states: "See you at my party."
Another Sweet Child hugs me good-bye

Hugs All Around
... we all needed them

Customer Service: The Need for Apology, Empathy, and Explanation (A Personal Story)

10:02 p.m.

I huff and I puff and I snuff and I rush
From concourse B
to concourse D

This was after the shuttle bus drove past
the assigned pick up location on my receipt
at

3:10 p.m.
The shuttle drove past
I called the company on the phone
Who said, “Well, we can’t get another driver there for an hour”
in a WAY less than empathetic tone
So I hail a cabbie who was as nice as could be
He had another passenger already – which was lucky for me
Since the cash I was carrying wouldn’t suffice
And the Bloomsbury vendor was generous and nice
She loaned me some cash and told a great story
About her harrowing trip in
Which made this (so far) mishap boring
(She almost missed her flight after locking her keys in her car
and sat next to a long-toed passenger who was truly bizarre.)

At 5:40 p.m.
I’m at Gate D4, but nobody’s boarding
And I wasn’t sure
So I approach Delta staff to make sure that I’m right
With less than three words, she confirms it’s my flight
But neglects to inform
that the plane is delayed because of a storm
Concerned about my connecting flight
I stand in line again to make sure I’ll be alright
Another staff member (tone equally cool)
States “You’ll be fine” in a way that makes me feel like fool

At 10:00 p.m.
As I exit this first flight and see my gate
It’s “BOARDING” – If I don’t run, I’m going to be late!
I huff and I puff and I snuff and I rush
From concourse B to concourse D
“Excuse me! Excuse me!”
Of course, you know, I didn’t “make it in time”
And when I get there, I’m second in line
The unfriendly staff doesn’t bat a lash
As she ignores my sweat and my un-Olympic dash
Instead of a smile and “Sorry” and soothing explanation
She ignores my communication
What is she doing ?!
Staring at her computer screen -- apparently, she’s made me another reservation


There’s much more to tell both in detail and plot
But for a rhyming poem… I’d rather not

Let’s stop the story here and just jump to the moral:

Customer Service is communication in words and in tone –
After an inconvenience,
Apology, Empathy, and Explanation is the touchstone.

Indeed, my customer service awareness and skills during yesterday and today
Have improved 100% -- a GREAT conference take away.

Stories to Share: Alligator's Whistle

I've started a new side bar ("Stories to Share") where I'll post the text (and later, the audio ...) of stories I tell or retell.

The sheet music for the "Alligator's Whistle" can be found in The Storytelling Handbook by Anne Pellowski.  I play a recorder during the musical sections.  However, one could also sing, as lyrics are provided in Pellowski's book:

The Microsoft clipart images are used as a visual prompt to remind me what gestures or visual props to use.  Sometime, I'd like to print the text on large poster board, probably in four sections.  Then, the audience could read the story at the same time ...

Memorial Day: Walking with Stories

I'm at Punderson State Park
alone for the moment
on a personal journey

How Will We Get to the Beach?
Me, I walk
pack on my back
Ipod in ears
pop beating the walk

Suddenly, suprise!
tears in eyes
a stranger offers a ride,
"I've been in your shoes before"
I love my Keen Shoes! I love my Keen shoes!

After musing and music
and sitting in mud
I Walk in the Woods
on the Iroquois trail
listening to Eat, Pray, Love:

"I have a tendancy not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential." (Gilbert 285)

Discovering the World of Children

My first experience involving young children (which was inadvertently also my first experience with storytime) was in middle school.

As part of a seventh or eighth grade honors English "career mentorship" project, I was paired with then Vindicator columnist Jane Tims. While I wasn't necessarily considering a career in journalism, Jane provided experiences based on a love of writing and reading. For example, I was able to attend a Scribblers meeting and share my poetry. I was able to write her emails sharing my teenage thoughts and feelings. I even accompanied her on a visit to a Youngstown city school where she volunteered her time to read them a story ...

After the story, Jane stayed a while longer to help the children (and thus the teacher!) with their school work. While I didn't then know the best words or all of the appropriate reactions to use when interacting with children, I remember feeling good about being there. The children amazed me ... their tangible emotions whether energized and exuberant or contemplative and reserved ... awed me. It was a satisfying and a surprising journey of self-discovery to guide them as they worked through questions. I remember talking about this experience when I got home ...

Isn't it strange how this (until now, forgotten) experience fits as piece into the puzzle of now?